Florida’s opioid epidemic is one of the worse in the nation. However, there is good news recently but also paired with bad news.
For one, opioids categorized as “natural” or “semisynthetic opioids” saw a slow decline in deaths, while synthetic opioids such as fentanyl resulted in higher deaths.
The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA) sent out a “trends alert” report about the overall slowdown of opioid deaths. Unfortunately, fentanyl is the deadliest opioid today and takes more lives than other substances.
Read on to find out more about Florida’s overall opioid deaths decline, despite rising fentanyl fatalities. Also, how you can get help for drug addiction today.
Overall Opioid Overdose Deaths Slowly Decline
Recently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that drug overdose deaths decreased nationally, based on newly released 2018 data. The CDC states:
- “In 2018, there were 67,367 drug overdose deaths in the United States, a 4.1% decline from 2017 (70,237 deaths).”
- “The drug overdose death rate was lower in 2018 than in 2017 for 15 jurisdictions: Alaska, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.”
What contributed to the decline of drug overdose deaths? The FADAA report details the decrease in overall opioid deaths in Florida, but an increase in fentanyl fatalities:
- “Overall, the rate of opioid overdose deaths declined nationally, following a 5-year period of annual increases. Rates declined for methadone, natural and semisynthetic opioids such as oxycodone, and heroin. In Florida, a similar decline was observed for all opioids combined in the last year.”
- “In spite of these improvements, drug overdose deaths due to synthetic opioids other than methadone continued to increase in the US, though at a slower rate from 2017 to 2018 than 2016 to 20171. In Florida, 2018 saw the fifth year of significant increases in the rate of death due to fentanyl, a particularly potent opioid.”
This information was presented in a plotted chart, which shows that overall opioid overdose deaths had a slight decline, while fentanyl-related deaths went up. However, opioids, in general, still account for a high number of deaths.
Source: FADAA
Why are opioid overdoses so fatal? The CDC conducted a study in 2017-2018 with the following conclusions:
“The majority of opioid deaths (62.6%) co-occurred with one or more of the following drugs: benzodiazepines, cocaine, and methamphetamine, which were each present in 32.5%, 34.0%, and 12.1% of deaths, respectively. From July–December 2017 to January–June 2018, opioid deaths without benzodiazepines, cocaine, or methamphetamine decreased 8.0%, and opioid deaths co-occurring with benzodiazepines significantly decreased 5.7%. Conversely, opioid deaths co-occurring with methamphetamine significantly increased by 14.6%. IMF (Illicitly manufactured fentanyl ) deaths that co-occurred with benzodiazepines, cocaine, and methamphetamine significantly increased from July–December 2017 to January–June 2018 by 11.3%, 14.0%, and 31.0%, respectively, as IMF deaths without benzodiazepines, cocaine, or methamphetamine increased 6.7%.”
How to Get Help for Drug Addiction in Florida
Florida’s overall opioid deaths decline is a good sign, although fentanyl still poses to be a rising problem. Drugs today are mixed with various substances that you may not be aware of, causing an overdose you didn’t see coming.
If you or someone you know is suffering from drug addiction, or any other substance abuse disorder, seek professional help now.
Contact On Call Treatment FL, a South Florida drug rehab—available 24 Hours, 7 days a week, call us NOW 1-(855)-492-1515.